English

When King Nimrod went out the fields
And looked among the stars,
He saw a light in the Jewish quarter,
Foretelling that Abraham our father would be born.
Abraham, our father, beloved father, light of Israel….
Terach’s wife was pregnant
And each day he would ask her,
“Why do you look so distraught?”
She already knew very well what she had.
Abraham, our father, beloved father, light of Israel….

At the end of nine months she was determined to give birth,
She walked through the fields and vineyards
She didn’t tell her husband anything,
She found a manger [cave]; there, she would give birth.
Abraham, our father, beloved father, light of Israel….

Credits

Description

This is one of the best-known Sephardic songs, some versions of which have 15 or more verses. Nimrod, a king and direct descendent of Noah who appears in the Book of Genesis, was a mighty hunter and a seer. His vision of the birth of Abraham disturbs him, as he sees a threat to his kingdom, so he orders the killing of new-born boys. Abraham’s mother is able to save him, with consequences that ring down through the millennia.

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praise for trio sefardi:

“Your per­for­mance to a large and enthu­si­as­tic audi­ence was mov­ing, lyri­cal, and mem­o­rable. ...Your mix of songs Flory taught you and your own work was beau­ti­fully inspir­ing.“
Carol Lite, Wash­ing­ton Folk Fes­ti­val Pro­gram Committee